Day 11 – Beijing and The Great Wall

May 25, 2017

First full day of Beijing

Today was the big day! It was our first full day in Beijing and was the day we were going to see the Great Wall of China, one of the new seven wonders of the world. We woke up earlier than normal today in order to board the bus by 7:00 am. Steve, our tour guide said that rush hour in Beijing can get bad and that timing would be very important. If we left at 7:00 am, it would be an hour and 20 minute commute, whereas, if we left at 8:00 am, it would be a three-hour commute, to our destination.

On the way to the Great Wall, Steve pointed out the government buildings in China, including the central government and the embassy buildings, as there are over 200 embassies in Beijing. We also saw the Birds Nest 2008 Beijing Olympics Stadium, which was an amazing and frequently seen spectacle worldwide less than a decade ago.

Jade Garden

Our first destination was the Jade Garden. China is famous for its jade, which is known for its beauty and hardness. A guide for the Jade Garden Museum walked us through various statues, figures, and other expensive items made out of jade. Interesting facts about jade jewelry, it absorbs oil and water from the skin, changing its color so by studying the jade’s color, you are able to learn about your health.  Additionally, since jade is sought after and expensive, its’ important to distinguish between fake and authentic jade. Authentic jade is translucent, and the minerals can be seen inside, which differs from the properties of fake jade. Real jade is colder to touch, and is also much harder, thus much more resistant to scratches than fake jade. After learning about jade, many of our fellow peers and faculty excitedly splurged on buying jade items from the gift store, including chopsticks, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

Great Wall….Living up to our expectations

After the Jade Garden, everyone was getting excited to see, and climb, the Great Wall. We have all seen in pictures and videos throughout our lives and the Great Wall, as we approached it, lived up to all expectations. The mountains, the multitude of trees, and the winding, long Great Wall was visible from miles away, and it was truly great. After getting our tickets and taking a group photo, we all ventured out to climb the wall.

The main platform to climb the wall had an option to take a left and a right route. We were told the left route was a steeper, tougher climb, and the tower at the top was at the highest elevation we could reach. The right route was supposed to be a little bit easier and was sprawling with more tourists compared to the left. Over half the group took the left route, and it was a heck of a climb. The climb was very steep and vertical at times, had both upward and downward slopes, and had different sized steps. After a lot of stress on our legs, a good cardio workout, and hundreds of pictures throughout from the group, we had reached the top. It was a great accomplishment, and the views throughout were beautiful. Lots of us eventually ventured out to the right route. Although also tough, it was completely worth it. We all met up as a group at the bottom, ate a buffet lunch at the wall, and headed on out from a-once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Temple of Heaven

We visited the Temple of Heaven, which was a collection of temple buildings where people used to pray for peace and tranquility. It was surrounded by a calm garden, and the whole area was bustling with tourists. After touring a serene spot, Steve took us to the busy walking street in Beijing, an area that was full of shopping areas, food areas, and tourists. The group collected more souvenirs before dinner in Beijing for an authentic Chinese dinner, which was also accompanied by a traditional Chinese show incorporating shadows on a large screen that told a story of a monkey and a panda. Skilled restaurant workers used sticks to create movements on the monkey, panda, a forest setting, and live music to create actions and the story.

After getting back to the hotel, some people enjoyed their night by exploring the Beijing nightlife in the Hou Hai area, which had a collection of bars surrounding a large pond. The majority of the bars had live music, where up and coming artists debut to try and make it to the next level in music.  Outside you can find several vendors selling some delicious meat on a stick to enjoy by the water. We enjoyed spending time in the foreign city, meeting locals and foreigners, and experiencing the culture of people in the northern capital.

by guest blogger Jensen Vellaringattu & Jacob Rooks